The Ventura Damon Youth Sports Foundation (VDYSF) is a nonprofit dedicated to leveling the playing field for underserved youth by providing access to sports, equipment, and safe spaces to play. Athletics build confidence, discipline, and community, empowering young people to develop lifelong healthy habits. Yet too many young people in American communities are excluded from organized sports due to a lack of funding, facilities, or basic equipment. This exclusion fosters cycles of isolation, chronic disease, and reduced opportunity. Research demonstrates that structured sports, particularly when paired with mentorship, produce wide-ranging benefits. Adolescents engaged in organized sports report significantly better self-rated health and lower depressive symptoms in early adulthood compared to nonparticipants (Wright et al., 2024). Physical activity is also strongly associated with improved cognitive performance, higher grades, and standardized test achievement (Donnelly et al., 2016). In addition, mentorship programs tied to sports settings can substantially reduce delinquency, with one randomized controlled trial showing youth were 54% less likely to be arrested after 18 months of sustained mentorship (Grossman & Tierney, 1998). Organized team sports further provide protective effects against anxiety, depression, and social difficulties among adolescents (Zarrett et al., 2023). Taken together, the evidence underscores that access to affordable, structured sports programs is not simply recreational but a proven strategy for advancing public health, educational outcomes, and community safety.

VDYSF directly tackles these barriers by supplying uniforms and gear, developing structured after-school programs, and partnering with schools and municipalities to expand access to safe playing environments. Pilot initiatives in Massachusetts have already outfitted middle school athletes, connected families to local clubs, and engaged city leaders around mini-pitch and turf field development. Founder Felipe Pinto brings lived experience to this mission. Growing up in Brockton, MA, he saw firsthand how many talented athletes were left behind due to systemic barriers. Through scholarships, Felipe became a first-generation student-athlete at Wentworth Institute of Technology, later earning a business degree and launching Elite Hydration, a clean-label sports drink brand that also serves as a sustainable partner fueling VDYSF’s mission.

Looking ahead, VDYSF plans to scale across New England, reaching thousands of students, expanding into high schools, and ultimately building dedicated community facilities. With donor support, state grants, and mission-aligned partnerships, VDYSF is positioned for scalable, lasting impact. By investing in access to sports, VDYSF is investing in healthier, more resilient, and more united communities.